Five takeaway of the election of Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico



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MEXICO CITY – After 18 years of settlement policy, the Mexicans decided on Sunday that this was enough, electing leftist candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador as president in a landslide victory in an election of first.

More than half vote, according to early returns, he has won by the biggest margin in a presidential race since the nation passed to democracy almost 20 years ago.

Here are five highlights of Mr. López Obrador's victory and what to expect: 19659004] Reject the status quo

To understand the hard renunciation of the establishment, and the ability of Mr. López Obrador to take advantage, it is useful to understand the recent electoral history of Mexico

Institutional Revolutionary President Enrique Peña Nieto Party, known as PRI, dominated politics in Mexico from 1929 to 2000, when he was dethroned by the Conservative National Action Party, or PAN, at the time led by Vicen

Trump has harassed Mexico since he announced his candidacy, criticizing his migrants, threatening to abandon the North American Free Trade Agreement and promising to build a wall between the two. country. Reflecting the current cold, Mr. Trump and his counterpart, Peña Nieto, have not met since the US president took office.

Although leftist, López Obrador compared Trump to his nationalist impulses. , populist rhetoric and combative personality. But from time to time, he has also demonstrated a pugnacity toward Mexico's northern neighbor and left no doubt that he is willing to go along with Mr. Trump to defend the interests of Mexico

. López Obrador's victory puts the left at the head of Mexico for the first time in generations and represents a resounding rejection of the two political parties that have dominated Mexican politics over the past two decades: the centrist PRI and the center-right PAN

The results were particularly brutal for Mr. Peña Nieto and the PRI, who not only lost the presidency but face heavy losses in Congress and in most state governor races. The party was once the engine of Mexican politics. But Sunday's results plunged the P.R.I. in an existential crisis, and a deeply uncertain future.

The prospects for P.A.N. remains just as cloudy. His candidate, Ricardo Anaya, is considered one of the most agile and ambitious politicians in Mexico and, keeping an eye on the election of 2024, he could seek to position himself as the leader of l & # 39; opposition.

19659005] As long as Mr. López Obrador has stood for presidency, the charges that he will sink the economy have continued. He was compared in the media to Hugo Chávez, the former socialist leader of Venezuela, and dubious reports attempted to link his campaign to Russia, creating a narrative of a radical and dangerous leader.

While comparisons with Mr. Chávez Mr. López Obrador has yet to convince investors that his policies will be business-friendly. "They are far from enthusiastic, but they are adopting a wait-and-see attitude," Duncan said. Wood, director of the Mexico Institute at Wilson Center Washington

. López Obrador promised an ambitious list of social programs while assuring investors that he would exercise fiscal prudence and respect the independence of the Mexican central bank. In his acceptance speech Sunday night, he echoed these promises

But how will he pay for his social programs? Its advisers estimate that they will absorb about 10% of the federal budget, about $ 25 billion a year. López Obrador promises to pay for his programs by reducing the waste and corruption of government spending. Analysts wonder if this will be enough

Investors will also follow its approach to Mexico's energy reform, which has opened up vast areas for private investment and generated $ 80 billion worth of investment commitments to explore and produce oil. Mr López Obrador has been a fierce opponent of attempts to privatize the oil industry, but he said he would respect existing contracts and the rule of law.

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